Portable light fixture

ABSTRACT

A light head mounted on a post a distance above a tubular crossbar of square cross section. The crossbar comprises the outer one of a pair of complementary arm forming members that are telescopically connected and together comprise one of the opposite arms of a C-clamp. The inner arm forming member is also of square cross section and it is releasably securable in either end portion of the outer member to dispose the C-clamp with its bight either crosswise or lengthwise of the post, at either side thereof. The bight of the C-clamp also comprises telescopically connected complementary bight forming members that provide for adjustment of the span of the clamp.

United States Patent 72] Inventors Donald S. Henning Thiensville;William A. Woman. Wauwatosa. both 0L Wk. [211 App]. No. 819,793 [22]Filed Apr. 28, 1969 [45] Patented July 27, 1971 [73] Assignee PhoenixProducts Company, Inc.

Milwaukee, Wis.

[54] PORTABLE LIGHT FIXTURE 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

152] US. Cl 2411/52.], 240/68, 269/208 [51] Int. Cl B25b 1/02. F2lv21/08 [50] Field ofSearch 240/52. 52.1, 68; 269/207. 208. 209. 2 10, 211, 212, 213. 215, 284, 272, 249

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,399,461 12/1921 Childs240/521 1,543,197 6/1925 Ulrich 269/249 X 1,587,820 6/1926 Carter269/249 X Primary Examiner-Richard C. Queisser Assistant E.raminer.lohnWhalen Attorney-Ira Milton Jones ABSTRACT: A light head mounted on apost a distance above a tubular crossbar of square cross section. Thecrossbar comprises the outer one of a pair of complementary arm formingmembers that are telescopically connected and together comprise one ofthe opposite arms of a C-clamp. The inner arm forming member is also ofsquare cross section and it is releasably securable in either endportion of the outer member to dispose the C-clamp with its bight eithercrosswise or lengthwise of the post, at either side thereof. The bightof the C-clamp also comprises telescopically connected complementarybight forming members that provide for adjustment of the span of theclamp.

min

PATENTED JUL2 7 I971 SHEET 1 BF 3 F'GJ,

PORTABLE LIGHT FIXTURE This invention relates to the problem ofproviding adequate illumination for the interiors of railway boxcar'sand the like so as to facilitate loading and unloading thereof; and itspurpose is to provide an exceptionally efficacious solution to thatproblem.

Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide a lightinginstrumentality which features a light head mounted on the top portionof a post that can be readily releasably secured in an upright positionalong one sidewall of a railway boxcar, in its interior, and at eitherside of the door opening in said wall.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide aportable light fixture such as described in the preceding object,featuring a dual lamp light head that simultaneously affordsillumination for both ends of a boxcar; and further featuring a readilyadjustable clamp device that is engageable around the jambs of boxcardoors to releasably clamp the fixture in place against the adjacent wallof the car regardless of variations in thickness of the walls on boxcarsof different construction.

With these observations and objects in mind, the manner in which theinvention achieves its purpose will be appreciated from the followingdescription and the accompanying drawings. This disclosure is intendedmerely to exemplify the invention. The invention is not limited to theparticular structure or method disclosed, and changes can be madetherein. which lie within the scope of the appended claims withoutdeparting from the invention.

The drawings illustrate one complete example of the physical embodimentof the invention constructed according to the best mode so fardevisedfor the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable light fixture of thisinvention, showing the same mounted in a position of use inside arailway boxcar alongside one of its door openings;

FIG. 2 is a detail sectional view, at an enlarged scale, taken on theline 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but showing the light fixturemounted at the opposite side of the door opening; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view, at an'enlarged scale, showinghow the C-clamp can be placed in a convenient storage position withrespect to the post.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, thenumeral 5 generally designates the upright post of a portable lightfixture embodying this invention. A light head 6 is mounted on the post,at its top, and it comprises a pair of flood lamps 7 arranged to directlight to opposite sides of the post and at a slight downward angle.

The post 5 is comprised of elongated coaxially arranged top, bottom andcenter tubular post sections 8, 9 and 10, respectively. The end portionsof the center section are telescoped over and detachably secured to theadjacent end portions of the top and bottom post sections by bolts 11.All of these post sections can be of rectangular cross section,preferably square as are the top and center sections 8 and 10,respectively. The center section 10, of course, is slightly larger thanthe others to have a close sliding fit over their adjacent end portions.

In the present case, the bottom section 9 has been shown as comprised ofa length of circular cross section tubing. It provides a leg for thepost, and has a rubber crutch tip 9' on its lower extremity. The topsection 8 has the light head 6 mounted thereon, as shown. I

FIG. 1 best shows how the post 5 can be mounted in an upright positionof use in a boxcar at one side of its door opening 14, with a tubularcross bar of a square cross section on the back of its center section 10engaging the inner, surface of the adjacent sidewall 13 of the car toassure that the lamps 7 will be properly oriented to direct light towardthe opposite ends of the car. The post can be readily releasably held inthat position of use by a C-claimp generally designated 16. The C- clampcan be secured to the-wall 13 of the boxcar with its bight extendingsubstantially horizontally through the door opening 14 directly adjacentto the jamb 18, and with its opposite arms embracing the wall 13 justinwardly of the door opening.

The clamp 16 is of special construction. It is comprised of tubularmembers of square cross section but of two different sizes so that thesmaller tubular members can be telescopically and releasably engagedwith the larger tubular members.

Thus, the bight of the clamp comprises complementary inner and outerbight forming members 19 and 20, respectively. The outer member 20 isjoined at right angles to that arm 21 of the clamp having the clampscrew 22 threaded therein. The inner member 19 is joined at right anglesto an arm forming member 23 of the same small size, and which, togetherwith the crossbar 15, provides the other arm of the clamp. It will beunderstood, of course, that the crossbar 15 has the same size as theouter bight member 20 and the screw mounting arm 21.

With the construction described, the bight forming members 19 and 20 arerelatively axially slidable to vary the span of the clamp, and they canbe readily releasably held in any of a number of different positions ofadjustment by a latch 25 to be described later.

The complementary arm forming members 15 and 23 are also relativelyaxially slidable and releasably held against such sliding motion byanother latch 25. However, they are so connected for a differentpurpose, namely, to enable the inner arm member to be axially displacedfrom and/or connected in either end of the outer member 15. Accordingly,it will be seen that the clamp can be placed in either of two operativepositions of use with its bight disposed at one side or the other of thepost 5 and crosswise thereof, whereby the clamp can be secured to thewall 13 at either side of the door opening. This is suggested by FIGS. 2and 3, where it will be noted that the two operative positions of theclamp are displaced 180 apart about the axis of its bight.

In addition, the displaceability of the inner arm forming member 23 fromthe crossbar 15 and the square shape thereof enables the inner armmember to be engaged in either end portion of the crossbar with theinner arm in either of two positions displaced from one another aboutthe longitudinal axis of said arm member. This enables the light fixtureto be stored most conveniently with its clamp in an out of the wayposition at which its bight extends lengthwise of the post, as seen inFIG. 4. v

The joining inner arm and bight forming members 19 and 23 are readilyreleasably held in any of the above-described positions by means of thelatch devices 25 mentioned previously. One of these is mounted in theouter end portion of each of said members, and each comprises a pin 26,and a U- shaped spring 28 having the pin secured to one leg thereof. Theopposite legs of each spring bear flatwise and frictionally against twoopposite walls of the inner member so as to enable the latch device tobe held in place without fasteners of any kind.

Each spring yieldingly holds its pin 26 projected outwardly through ahole 29 in the inner member. The pin on the bight forming member 19 isselectively and releasably engageable in any one of a number of axiallyspaced holes 30 in the outer bight member 20, to enable the span of theclamp to be adjusted to a dimension slightly greater than the thicknessof the wall to which the light fixture is to be clamped.

Similarly, the pin 26 on the inner arm forming member 23 is nonnallyheld projected outwardly through its hole 29 and engaged in any one offour holes 31 in the arm forming crossbar 15. Two of these holes are inthe front wall 32 of the crossbar, near the opposite ends of the bar andspaced equal distances therefrom; and these are the ones in which thepin 26 can engage to hold the clamp in either of its two operativepositions seen'in FIGS. 2 and 3. The other two holes 31 are similarlylocated in the top wall 33 of the crossbar, and provide for mounting theclamp in an inactive or storage position such as seen in FIG. 4.

With the light fixture disposed inside a boxcar, alongside its dooropening as shown in FIG. 1, the clamp screw 22 must be brought to bearagainst the exterior of the wall 13 in order to draw the crossbar orouter arm member 15 ofthe clamp firmly against the inner surface of thewall for stable mounting of the fixture relative thereto. FIG. 2illustrates this positioning of the clamp at the right-hand side of thedoor opening, and with the bight of the clamp adjusted for minimum spanfor a wall 13 of small thickness.

FIG. 3 not only illustrates the clamp disposed at the lefthand side ofthe door opening, but also shows how the span of the clamp must beincreased by adjustment of its bight, when the wall of the boxcar isthicker.

From the foregoing description, together with the accompanying drawings,it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that thisinvention provides an exceptionally efficacious solution to the problemof illuminating the interiors of railway boxcars.

What we claim as our invention is:

l. A portable light fixture of the type comprising a light head, andfurther characterized by:

A. an elongated member on which the light head is mounted;

B. means to support said elongated member in an upright position along awall adjacent to a door opening therein, comprising a C-clamp which canbe secured to the wall with its bight extending substantiallyhorizontally through the door opening, and with the clamp arms embracingportions of the wall adjacent to the opening;

C. one arm of the clamp comprising complementary telescopically engagedinner and outer arm members, the latter of which is mounted crosswise onsaid elongated member and the former of which is connected with thebight of the clamp, said complementary arm members being square in crosssection and being axially separable and reengageable to enable the clampto be disposed in either of two positions displaced 90 apart about theaxis of said one arm, one of said positions being a storage position atwhich the bight of the clamp is disposed substantially vertically andlengthwise ofsaid elongated member; and

cooperating means on said arm members readily releasably holding theclamp in either of said two positions 2. A portable light fixture of thetype comprising a light head, and further characterized by:

A. an elongated member upon which the light head is mounted;

8. means to support said elongated member in an upright position along awall adjacent to a door opening therein, comprising a C-clamp the armsof which can be embracingly secured to the wall adjacent to the dooropening with its bight extending substantially horizontallytherethrough; and

C. one arm of the clamp comprising l. a pair of elongated cooperatingarm members mounted one on the clamp and the other crosswise on saidelongated member, and

2. arm connecting means providing for separably connecting said armmembers together with the clamp carried arm member in either of twopositions displaced from one another about its longitudinal axis.

3. The portable light fixture of claim 2 wherein said arm connectingmeans further provides for connecting said arm members together with theclamp in either of two positions displaced apart about the axis of thebight of the C- clamp, to enable the bight of the clamp to be located ateither side ofsaid upright member.

4. The portable light fixture of claim 2 further characterized A. thebight of the clamp comprising cooperating elongated bight members whichare movable lengthwise relative to one another to adjust the span of theclamp arms; and

B. cooperating means on said bight members to releasably hold them indifferent positions of adjustment.

5. A portable light fixture of the type comprising a light head, andfurther characterized by:

A. an elongated member on which the light head is mounted;

B. means to support said elongated member in an upright position along awall adjacent to a door opening therein, comprising a C-clamp which canbe secured to the wall with its bight extending substantiallyhorizontally through the door opening, and with its arms embracingportions of the wall adjacent to the opening;

C. one arm of the clamp comprising complementary telescopically engagedinner and outer arm members one connecting with the bight of the clampand the other mounted crosswise on the elongated member, the bightconnected arm member being telescopically engageable with either endportion of said arm which is mounted on the elongated member so as toenable the clamp to be disposed with its bight at either side of saidelongated member, said complementary arm members being square in crosssection so as to enable telescopic engagement thereof with the clamp ineither of two positions displaced 90 apart about the axis of said armwhich is mounted on the elongated member, and in one of which positionsthe bight of the clamp is disposed vertically, lengthwise of saidelongated member;

. cooperating means on said arm members readily releasably holding thebight connected arm member telescopically engaged with either endportion of the other arm member;

E. the bight of the clamp comprising complementary telescopicallyconnected bight members which can be adjusted lengthwise of one anotherto vary the span of the clamp; and

F. cooperating means on said complementary bight members to releasablyhold the same in different positions of lengthwise adjustment.

1. A portable light fixture of the type comprising a light head, andfurther characterized by: A. an elongated member on which the light headis mounted; B. means to support said elongated member in an uprightposition along a wall adjacent to a door opening therein, comprising aC-clamp which can be secured to the wall with its bight extendingsubstantially horizontally through the door opening, and with the clamparms embracing portions of the wall adjacent to the opening; C. one armof the clamp comprising complementary telescopically engaged inner andouter arm members, the latter of which is mounted crosswise on saidelongated member and the former of which is connected with the bight ofthe clamp, said complementary arm members being square in cross sectionand being axially separable and reengageable to enable the clamp to bedisposed in either of two positions displaced 90* apart about the axisof said one arm, one of said positions being a storage position at whichthe bight of the clamp is disposed substantially vertically andlengthwise of said elongated member; and D. cooperating means on saiDarm members readily releasably holding the clamp in either of said twopositions.
 2. A portable light fixture of the type comprising a lighthead, and further characterized by: A. an elongated member upon whichthe light head is mounted; B. means to support said elongated member inan upright position along a wall adjacent to a door opening therein,comprising a C-clamp the arms of which can be embracingly secured to thewall adjacent to the door opening with its bight extending substantiallyhorizontally therethrough; and C. one arm of the clamp comprising
 2. armconnecting means providing for separably connecting said arm memberstogether with the clamp carried arm member in either of two positionsdisplaced 90* from one another about its longitudinal axis.
 3. Theportable light fixture of claim 2 wherein said arm connecting meansfurther provides for connecting said arm members together with the clampin either of two positions displaced 180* apart about the axis of thebight of the C-clamp, to enable the bight of the clamp to be located ateither side of said upright member.
 4. The portable light fixture ofclaim 2 further characterized by: A. the bight of the clamp comprisingcooperating elongated bight members which are movable lengthwiserelative to one another to adjust the span of the clamp arms; and B.cooperating means on said bight members to releasably hold them indifferent positions of adjustment.
 5. A portable light fixture of thetype comprising a light head, and further characterized by: A. anelongated member on which the light head is mounted; B. means to supportsaid elongated member in an upright position along a wall adjacent to adoor opening therein, comprising a C-clamp which can be secured to thewall with its bight extending substantially horizontally through thedoor opening, and with its arms embracing portions of the wall adjacentto the opening; C. one arm of the clamp comprising complementarytelescopically engaged inner and outer arm members one connecting withthe bight of the clamp and the other mounted crosswise on the elongatedmember, the bight connected arm member being telescopically engageablewith either end portion of said arm which is mounted on the elongatedmember so as to enable the clamp to be disposed with its bight at eitherside of said elongated member, said complementary arm members beingsquare in cross section so as to enable telescopic engagement thereofwith the clamp in either of two positions displaced 90* apart about theaxis of said arm which is mounted on the elongated member, and in one ofwhich positions the bight of the clamp is disposed vertically,lengthwise of said elongated member; D. cooperating means on said armmembers readily releasably holding the bight connected arm membertelescopically engaged with either end portion of the other arm member;E. the bight of the clamp comprising complementary telescopicallyconnected bight members which can be adjusted lengthwise of one anotherto vary the span of the clamp; and F. cooperating means on saidcomplementary bight members to releasably hold the same in differentpositions of lengthwise adjustment.